Ashfield District is changing. By 2026 significant population and housing growth is envisaged. The population of Ashfield is expected to rise by approximately 14% and locations for some 11,200 new homes will need to be found. New jobs, shops and leisure facilities will also have to be provided.

In the summer and autumn of 2009 we asked you what issues and options you thought most important for the future development of Ashfield. The next stage in this process is to obtain views on the Council’s preferred option for Ashfield to 2026. This has been made after considering all the comments we received at the two previous rounds of consultation. This includes developers, landowners and infrastructure providers as well as local residents and organisations. Your views and input are important and will enable the Council to make the most informed decisions regarding the future development of Ashfield District.

The Core Strategy Preferred Option document sets out the potential strategic locations for new development and growth in the district to 2026. A total of three major strategic sites are set out for Hucknall/Sutton/Kirkby in the following locations:

• Land at Rolls Royce off Watnall Road, Hucknall (900 homes and a 38ha business park)
• Land off Lowmoor Road, Kirkby/Sutton (1,000 homes)
• Land off Sutton Road, Kirkby (1,000 homes)

The remaining housing requirement would be met on sites within or adjoining the main urban areas of Kirkby, Sutton and Hucknall. Only limited development is proposed in the rural areas of the district. No growth or limited growth is not an option as Ashfield’s housing requirement is set out in the approved East Midlands Regional Plan.

The Council has produced a summary leaflet explaining all about the preferred option for growth in the district and other policies (such as climate change, flood risk etc.) that will affect the future development of the district.

The summary leaflet and full document can be viewed at the Councils website at www.ashfield-dc.gov.uk/ldf or you can contact the Planning Policy team on 01623 457383. Your comments will be taken into account when a decision is made on the Core Strategy prior to submitting the document to the Secretary of State later in 2010.